Women in leadership

Happiness is...

A little inspiration from women in leadership.

This weekend I had the pleasure of attending a women's conference, where I had several insights make an impact on me:
- Perception matters: the language about women is powerful. What are your defining characteristics? Hard-working? Dependable? Collaborative? Smart? Driven or Strategic?! I thought not.
- Women do not get ahead because they are not expected to strive for it. We are marginalized, not by men but by everyone. No is not an answer, it is the beginning of a negotiation. What we do to get ahead defines if we will. It is not aggressive, nor is it bragging, if it's fact.
- Women need a group of women who support them and build up their successes, not a group threatened by them (or settling).
- Your personal brand has a voice, whether or not you choose to manage it. Your image and voice can communicate the experience of working with you.
- Positive, authentic communication changes things.
- You must be able to leverage your emotional intelligence, ask for what you need, and make quick decisions in order to find opportunity.
- APRIL 12, 2011 MARKED PAY EQUITY DAY: It took until that day for a woman to make the exact salary as her male counterpart in the 2010 calendar year.

It's all a learning experience. What have you learned?

Me---I've learned that I AM enough.